Questions

369. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to publish HSE guidance issued to schools on mandatory written allergen information for non-prepacked foods, including the 2025 update to FSAI guidance note 28; and to detail audit findings on compliance in schools. [49515/25]

370. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has participated in the Department of Social Protection-led review of the 2017 nutrition standards; to provide documented advice on aligning Ireland's standards with US added-sugar limits and sodium targets, and with Nordic models specifying the percentage of daily energy from the school meal; and to provide timelines for adoption. [49516/25]

371. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide any nutrition surveillance of meals served under the scheme (macro- and micronutrients, free sugars, salt, fibre), including independent laboratory verification since 2023; and if no surveillance was carried out the reason for the absence of monitoring. [49517/25]

372. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the food-environment controls that exist for vending, tuck shops and fund raising on school premises (sale of HFSS products); the means by which they are enforced; and to provide the legal basis and inspection data since 2023. [49518/25]

373. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to publish HSE advice on minimum seated eating time needed for children to consume a hot meal safely; the communication of this to schools; and to provide any risk assessments regarding rushed eating and choking risk in infants classes. [49519/25]

374. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to detail the cross-departmental governance for safeguarding pupils with serious allergies consuming externally prepared meals, including traceability of ingredient allergen information along the supply chain and recall procedures. [49520/25]

375. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the HSE estimates of the health impact (BMI, anaemia, dental caries, attendance) of high-sugar options in school meals; and whether you have recommended added-sugar caps aligned to the USDA final rule. [49521/25]

376. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether her Department supports legislating for statutory school-meal nutrition standards and inspection powers; and if not, to provide the evidence base. [49522/25]

1140. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the total over expenditure on capital health projects in 2023-2025; the updated timeframes and costs for Cork University Hospital, the Mercy University Hospital, and St. Stephen's Hospital, Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47778/25]

1182. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if HSE services were involved with the child concerned in the Donabate case; if there was communication with Tusla regarding the child's welfare; and if she will provide details of any inter-agency engagement. [47993/25]

1202. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the daily 8am trolley counts for Cork University Hospital for each day of July–September 2025; the number of single-room isolation beds available and occupied each day in the emergency department and admission areas; the number of suspected or confirmed respiratory-virus patients cohorted in non-isolation areas; and the actions taken since 1 August 2025 to reduce…

1226. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she is confident in the quality and safety of the services provided to the general public at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48276/25]

1227. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she is satisfied that all doctors currently employed at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, are fully registered, up-to-date with their professional requirements, and compliant with standards set by the Irish Medical Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48277/25]

1228. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has received complaints concerning the professional conduct or service delivery at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, in the past five years; and if so, the number of complaints, their nature, and the status of ongoing reviews or investigations. [48278/25]

1237. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health to provide the most recent estimates, of the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and high cholesterol among adults over 65, by age cohort; if she accepts the findings of the report (details supplied) which indicates rates of 36% and 45% respectively; and the measures being taken to address this “critical unmet need.” [48352/25]

1238. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if she has considered establishing a national cardiovascular and metabolic screening programme for older adults, with particular emphasis on hypertension, diabetes, and cholesterol, in light of evidence of widespread undiagnosed illness. [48353/25]

1239. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the current ratio of consultant geriatricians to population over 70; how this compares to international best practice; and what expansion of geriatric medicine is planned in view of the doubling of Ireland’s older population over the next 25 years. [48354/25]

1240. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the extent to which her Department has considered a formal role for community pharmacists in screening, monitoring, and referral of older adults with chronic conditions, as recommended by a report (details supplied); and if any pilot schemes have been evaluated. [48355/25]

1241. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the number of older adults hospitalised due to falls and fractures in each of the past five years; the percentage of these patients receiving structured falls-prevention or rehabilitation programmes; and whether her Department accepts the reported rise in fall-related hospitalisations from 24% to 31% as identified in recent research. [48356/25]

1242. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the proportion of older adults reporting chronic pain who currently receive pain management treatment under the public health system; the specialised pain services that exist at HSE level; and whether gaps identified by a report (details supplied) will be addressed in the upcoming service plan. [48357/25]

1243. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the proportion of older adults who present with clinically significant depressive symptoms; the share of those who receive timely access to mental health supports; and whether her Department has set specific targets for improving access to geriatric psychiatry and psychological services. [48358/25]

1244. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has conducted cost-benefit analyses of proactive screening and early intervention in older adults, compared to the cost burden of late-stage illness such as stroke, cancer, and heart disease, resulting from untreated hypertension and high cholesterol. [48359/25]

1245. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department is taking to combat social isolation and loneliness among older adults, in view of recent research highlighting both the health risks and the preventability of loneliness. [48360/25]

1246. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health if her Department has assessed the adequacy of existing community support schemes such as the senior alert scheme, meals on wheels and befriending services in view of evidence from a report (details supplied) that social interaction plays a decisive role in maintaining health and independence. [48361/25]

1247. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health the extent to which her Department is supporting the expansion of community-based hubs for older people combining social interaction, meals, advice services, and outreach, as a preventive measure against ill-health and loneliness. [48365/25]